Publications
Publications
- September 2006 (Revised August 2007)
- HBS Case Collection
Warner Bros. and BitTorrent
Abstract
Involves the copyright issues associated with Bram Cohen's revolutionary program BitTorrent, which makes it possible to transfer very large files, such as movies, at a high speed over the Internet. The program, which is available for free over the Internet, is used for peer-to-peer sharing of movies and music and for the legitimate distribution of licensed software, including games. Discusses Warner Bros.' online distribution strategy as well as the negotiations between BitTorrent and the Movie Picture Association of America and Warner Bros. that ultimately led to Warner Bros.' agreement to make BitTorrent its first authorized peer-to-peer film distributor.
Keywords
Technological Innovation; Copyright; Lawfulness; Distribution; Internet and the Web; Motion Pictures and Video Industry
Citation
Bagley, Constance E., and Reed Martin. "Warner Bros. and BitTorrent." Harvard Business School Case 807-012, September 2006. (Revised August 2007.)